Marywood University to Host Forum Addressing Violence with Bestselling Author The Defenders of Democracy, a nonpartisan grassroots advocacy organization currently focused on a collaborative community approach to violence prevention, will host a forum in response to the growing epidemic of violence in our country. The forum, “A Community Confronts Violence: A New Vision,” will be held on Thursday, October 12, 2023, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Nazareth Hall, Marywood University. The event is free to attend and is open to the public. Michael Fanone, the former District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Officer who nearly died on January 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., will be the keynote speaker. Officer Fanone will discuss his bestselling book, Hold the Line, which addresses many of today’s most critical issues and how they impact our lives. Joining Officer Fanone will be Dr. Matthew Schaffer, the Director of Psychological Services at Marywood University and an expert in threat assessment, who will lead an interactive discussion about creating a community initiative to prevent violence in our region. The event’s goal is to bring together the various governmental, public, and private entities working on violence prevention and to explore models that have been effective in other communities and countries. The Defenders of Democracy was established and is administered through the Scranton Area Community Foundation to foster issues in civic engagement. “The Scranton Area Community Foundation supports events that bring the community together to work on solutions that enhance the quality of life for all people in Northeastern Pennsylvania,” stated Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation. “This event aims to convene the community to work on solutions that address violence within our communities. It is an important topic that has come up more and more frequently in community conversations, both locally and nationwide.” Copies of Officer Fanone’s Hold the Line book will be available for sale. Officer Fanone will stay to autograph copies following the event. Munley Law is the presenting sponsor. While the event is free and open to the public, registration is required. Register at https://www.campusce.net/marywood/course/course.aspx?catId=62.
Marywood University Celebrated EMPOWER Campaign at Launch Event On Friday, at an outdoor celebratory launch event, Marywood University announced the public phase of its comprehensive campaign, EMPOWER: The Campaign for Marywood. The event, which featured the popular local band, The Chatter, kicked off the campaign as well as Marywood’s Alumni and Family Weekend. Alumni, students and their families, faculty, staff, and members of the greater community attended the announcement and the celebration that followed. EMPOWER is a multi-year effort to raise $30 million with three priority areas: to create access to education through scholarships for students with financial need, to reimagine campus through the construction, renovation, and renewal of buildings and spaces to support growing programs and next-gen learning, and to enhance the student experience through annual and endowed philanthropic support. To date, Marywood has raised $24 million from alumni, parents, and friends of the University during the quiet phase of the campaign. During the event, Marywood University President Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Ed.D. introduced the official campaign video, and followed its presentation by stating, “Through the EMPOWER campaign, we are embarking on a journey that transcends the boundaries of our campus. The impact of this campaign will ripple far beyond these walls, reaching into the very heart of our local community and contributing to the development of the region.” She continued, “By empowering our students, by fostering innovation and learning, we are sparking a chain reaction that will uplift our local communities, stimulate economic growth, grow the workforce, and inspire a brighter future for all.” Campaign co-chairs, Marywood Board of Trustees Chair Lisa Lori, Esq. and Marywood Trustee Robert Tamburro, followed Sister Mary, with Atty. Lori noting, “Marywood’s commitment to education has always been steadfast, empowering students to believe in themselves and serve their communities…Together, we will create, reimagine, and enhance the future of Marywood University.”
Marywood University Offers Depression and Mood Disorder Screening Program According to the National Institute of Mental Health (2014), depression is the most common mental health issue among adults. The World Health Organization (2016) estimates that 350 million people of all ages suffer from depression worldwide. Screening for depression and other mood disorders provides individuals and families with the opportunity to identify warning signs early and to connect with appropriate treatment. It is important to note that symptoms can look different across and within cultures. Marywood’s Psychological Services Center Depression Screening Day, set for October 5, 2023, serves as a supportive community initiative to connect the public with mental health resources. Through this program, free depression screenings are offered at Marywood’s Psychological Services Center, located in the McGowan Center on the university’s campus. The screenings will be held on Thursday, October 5, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Each screening lasts for approximately 15 minutes. Early recognition and treatment of depression provide the best opportunity for recovery. The screenings offered at Marywood University’s Psychological Services Center are free, confidential, brief, and require no appointment or commitment. Although the screenings are not diagnostic, they do provide valuable insight. Additionally, screenings can help to identify symptoms associated with depression or other mood disorders and clarify if help may be needed. For questions about depression screenings or other mental health concerns, please contact Marywood’s Psychological Services Center at (570) 348-6269. Written by: Harry Ossolinski, M.S. (Psy.D. Candidate) and Emily Banfield, M.A. (Psy.D. Candidate), who are students in Marywood University’s Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) program.
Exhibitors Featured at Marywood’s Maslow Study Gallery The Marywood University Art Department will unveil “The Maslow Study Gallery Featuring Jasper Johns & Robert Rauschenberg,” an exhibit running from September 16 – October 28, 2023, during an opening reception on September 16, from 2-5 p.m., in conjunction with “The Russell Collection” in Mahady Gallery and “The Stories We Tell Ourselves: Stephen Garrison” in Suraci Gallery. This event will be held in the Maslow Study Gallery for Contemporary Art in the Shields Center for Visual Arts at Marywood University. The reception and exhibit are free and open to the public. This exhibition features ten important works by Jasper Johns (b. 1930) and Robert Rauschenberg (1925-2008) from The Maslow Collection. In showcasing two giants of 20th and 21st century American Art, the exhibition offers an examination of the artists’ fluid use of imagery, language, technique, scale, and material. It also allows for conversation around the generational impact of the artists’ work. Gallery hours for The Maslow Study Gallery are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information on The Maslow Study gallery, go to: marywood.edu/community/galleries/maslow-study-gallery-for-contemporary-art. For additional information about Marywood University’s art galleries, visit marywood.edu/community/galleries or call (570) 348-6278.
Marywood University Recognized by “Best Colleges” Marywood University continues to offer the “Best Value” among Northeast Pennsylvania Universities, according to the 2024 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges ranking. Moving up one place from last year to #22 on the regional universities (North) ranked for “Best Value,” Marywood continues to demonstrate its affordability as the only local four-year private university included in this category. According to U.S. News, the “Best Value” ranking considers a school’s academic quality—the higher the quality of the program and the lower the cost, the better the deal. Only schools ranked in or near the top half of their categories are included, because U.S. News considers the most significant values to be among colleges that are above average academically. Ranking #30 on the “Undergraduate Teaching” (Regional Universities North) list, Marywood is one of only two local universities to earn this distinction. This category, which covers nine states plus the District of Columbia, calls on top academics in the region to select and recognize institutions whose faculty and administrators are committed to teaching undergraduate students in a high-quality manner. Marywood University maintained its solid position on the “Best Regional Universities North” list, which includes institutions from seven states, ranking #50 overall. Marywood is one of only two local universities to attain placement on this list, demonstrating its enduring quality as a higher education provider in the region. For additional information about Marywood University, please visit marywood.edu. For additional information about Marywood’s rankings in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges, please visit usnews.com/best-colleges/marywood-university-3296/overall-rankings.
Marywood Announces Fall Art Galleries Marywood’s Art Galleries have announced exhibits for the first half of the fall semester, running from September 16 through October 21, in the Mahady and Suraci Galleries. All gallery exhibits, receptions, and talks are free and open to the public. Gallery hours are currently Mondays, 12- 4 p.m.; Tuesdays, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.; Wednesdays, 12-4 p.m.; Thursdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Fridays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., and Saturdays, 1-4 p.m. Mahady Gallery: The Russell Collection [Various Artists; Collection of Jeff and Liz Russell] Exhibition dates: September 16-October 21, 2023 Opening Reception: Saturday, September 16 • 2–5 p.m. Gallery Talk: Saturday, September 16, 2023 • 2 p.m. Jeff and Liz Russell have collected art for the last 40 years. The collection is somewhat eclectic, although most of the works are by American artists. From a small work by Robert Natkin to a large work by Robert Rauschenberg, the collection consists of mostly known artists. There are 51 works on display including paintings, prints, and photographs. The art movements of Abstract Expressionism, Minimalism, Pop Art, Photorealism, Neo-expressionism, the Rhino Horn Group and the Transcendental Group are represented. Most of the works were collected while the couple was in New York City, where they spent their careers, and in Northeast Pennsylvania, where they now reside. Prominent Pennsylvanian artists in the collection include Herb Simon, Karl Neuroth, Clifton Prokop, Richard Cramer, and William Baziotes, most of whom are friends. Suraci Gallery: The Stories We Tell Ourselves [Stephen Garrison, Artist] Exhibition dates: September 16-October 21, 2023 Opening Reception: Saturday, September 16 • 2–5 p.m. Gallery Talk: Monday, October 2, 2023 • 2 p.m. The Stories We Tell Ourselves is a series of mixed media works and drawings looking at anthropomorphic characters found throughout world religion, mythology, and contemporary fiction. The characters represented come from stories or histories in which they embody human personality traits, both positive and negative. The paintings themselves develop as layers which mask or reveal the drawing underneath. There are no physically mixed colors; each hue is the result of the layering of thin glazes of pure color. Each mixed media piece, with paper affixed to wood panel with multiple glazes of paint applied to it, acts as a series of masks. Each viewer may actually perceive them slightly differently, depending on their color sensitivities.
Marywood to Host Local Band “The Chatter” for a Free Event A launch party to announce a campaign to empower Marywood students for success will take place during an outdoor event on Friday, September 22, 6:30 p.m., on Marywood’s campus. The Chatter, a high-energy dance/rock band with music spanning many decades and genres, will headline this special event, which also is the kickoff to Marywood University’s Alumni and Family Weekend. The Launch Party is open to the community, Marywood alumni, students and their families. The event is free and open to the public, but advanced registration is appreciated. Refreshments will be available. For more information, or to register, please visit marywood.edu/chatter.
Marywood Attends Global Business Week Five students from Marywood University’s School of Business and Global Innovation participated in the X-Culture Global Business Week in Lublin, Poland, during the summer, with two students earning awards. Dr. Chris Speicher, Executive Director of Marywood’s School of Business and Global Innovation, served as the students’ professor and trip ambassador. Marywood students were members of two of the four winning teams selected by company executives—tying the highest college-winning representation at the conference. X-Culture is an international business plan competition in which students compete on teams composed of other students from around the world on real-life projects, set up by companies seeking to enter international markets. Each year more than 10,000 students participate in X-culture from over 400 institutions around the world. The top 150 students are invited to participate in the X-culture international symposium annually. Marywood’s students were split up to work with one of four Lublin-based companies, in a challenge to advise these companies on market expansion and other unique challenges each faced. The students received first-hand exposure in international business practices, toured the companies’ facilities, and spoke with company representatives and leaders, to further their understanding of the European market. Each company was assigned six teams, with 25 teams in total, and the teams with the best strategy and five-year plan were selected as winners of the challenge, with the chance for their ideas to be implemented into the company’s annual operations. Marywood students participating included: Michael Romano, Maywood, N.J., a junior business management major, who was a member of a winning team; Daniel Gomez, Miami, Fla., a sophomore sports management major; Gabrielle Troch, Newfoundland, Pa., a junior financial planning in business management major, who was a member of a winning team; Joel DeCarli, Archbald, Pa., a junior business management major, and Madison Guelho, Stroudsburg, Pa., a junior business management/health services administration major. “It was a trip that gave us exclusive first-hand experience into the world of international business and provided us with skills that will be valuable to our professional development and make us Marywood students stand out in the job field,” said Michael Romano, one of the award winners.
Marywood Featuring Architecture Exhibit, Gallery Talk, & Lecture Marywood University is featuring an architecture exhibit, Ideas + Examples: An Exhibition from The Lucy and Olivio Ferrari Archive from September 6-15. The exhibit includes a gallery talk by Prof. Shelley Martin on Wednesday, September 6, at 7 p.m., as well as a lecture by Prof. Frank Weiner on Thursday, September 7, at 2 p.m. All events are taking place in the Hawk Gallery, Center for Architectural Studies, on Marywood’s campus. The exhibition is intended to build upon the existing connections between Marywood University and Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va., and to cultivate a continuing exchange. This relationship can be traced back to Professor Gregory Hunt, Founding Dean of Marywood University’s School of Architecture and a former long serving faculty member at Virginia Tech. Exhibition curators include Arian Korkuti, Assistant Professor, School of Architecture, Marywood University; Shelley Martin, Associate Professor, School of Architecture, Virginia Tech, and Frank Weiner, Professor, School of Architecture, Virginia Tech. The work on view is from the collection of artifacts housed in The Lucy and Olivio Ferrari Archive located in the School of Architecture at Virginia Tech. The exhibition emphasizes the educational formation of an architect. The displayed artifacts, made by Lucy Ferrari and Olivio Ferrari, were not intended to be finished works of art or design, but rather didactic studies about basic design. The exhibition includes a set of photographic prints commissioned for the exhibition made by Prof. Shelley Martin. The Lucy and Olivio Ferrari Archive, established in October 2017 by Lucy Ferrari and Professor Frank Weiner, is housed in Cowgill Hall on the campus of Virginia Tech. The archive consists of approximately 1,000 items, representing a wide range of didactic materials including diagrams, texts, notes, professional projects, travel sketches, painting studies, prints, photographs, objects, furniture, prototypes, toys, jewelry, and textiles.
Marywood Earns Impressive Placements in 2024 Niche College Rankings Marywood University has earned impressive placements both nationally and statewide in the 2024 Niche College Rankings.Niche, the leading platform connecting students and families with colleges and schools, used updated data for 4,048 colleges nationwide, featuring updated methodology to better evaluate economic mobility and to reflect the declining importance of standardized test scores.In comparison with thousands of institutions nationwide and hundreds of institutions of higher education in Pennsylvania, Marywood garnered a host of notable placements, including: • Best Catholic Colleges in America (#46) and in Pennsylvania (#4)• Best College Dorms in America (#57) and in Pennsylvania (#5)• Best Small Colleges in America (#186) and Pennsylvania (#10)• Colleges with the Best Academics in Pennsylvania (#28) In the statewide category for Best Small Colleges, Marywood University is the highest-ranking local institution on the list. Additionally, Marywood earned high marks for Best Colleges for Architecture in America (#31), Best Colleges for Education in Pennsylvania (#16), Best College Campuses in Pennsylvania (#18), and Safest College Campuses in Pennsylvania (#23), among positive placements in many other categories.Niche combines data from sources such as the U.S. Department of Education with user input — reviews and ratings from current students, alumni, and parents — in a thorough analysis of factors including academics, athletics, food and campus life, to name a few. With rich data, tools, and comprehensive profiles and reviews on every college in America, Niche aims to empower students and their families as they embark on the college search process.
